A judicial magistrate here on Monday ordered to attach three official cars of estate officer Mohammed Shayin and the furniture, air conditioners and computers of his office with a case, for his failure to comply with the 2011 orders of a lok adalat to allot a rehabilitation flat to a slum-dweller.

Shayin is also the deputy commissioner of Chandigarh.

Disposing of an execution petition filed by Nasim Abbas, 45, who resided in the since-demolished Colony Number 5, the court also allowed an application seeking attachment of Shayin's salary as estate officer.

The quantum of salary attached was known immediately. Labourer Abbas, who now pitches a tent at different places in the city to live with his wife and three children, had moved the court noting that he had not been given a flat even though a permanent lok adalat had directed the estate officer and the Chandigarh Housing Board to allot him a flat under the rehabilitation scheme in 2011.

The decision to attach the property came after judicial magistrate Manav on Monday dismissed the estate office's contention that the lok adalat had no jurisdiction in the matter. Attachment of property essentially means that if the orders are not complied with, the property would be auctioned and be used as compensation.

Abbas' counsel Manjeet Singh Naryal said, "Ever since his hutment was demolished on November 20, Abbas has been struggling to survive. His kids no longer go to school, while he also has not been able to go to work."